Starting device for explosive-engines.



W. H. KELLY. STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVB ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10. 1913.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

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W. H. KELLY. STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION TILED JULY 10, 1913.

Patented Dec. 29, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witness Tan STATES TATETIT enrich.

WILLIAM H. KELLY, OIF WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA.

STARTING DEVICE FOR EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Application filed July 10, 1913.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at VVaynesboro, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting Devices for Explosive-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is a novel so-called selfstarter for explosive engines, and is espe cially' designed for use with the engines of automobiles, and motor boats.

Its object is to provide a novel springactuated starting device, wherein the spring may be wound up by the operation of the engine and its energy stored and thereafter utilized to start the engine, after the latter has been stopped, and operate same until it resumes its normal active functions.

The invention provides novel means whereby when the spring is wound to a predetermined extent the winding is automatically stopped, without stopping the engine shaft; novel devices for holding the starter inactive until it is desired to release same to actuate the engine; and novel means for shifting the parts so that the starter spring may be rewound when it is desired to again put the starter in condition for use.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated a practical form of starting device embodying the invention, and will explain the same with reference thereto, but the invention should not be restricted to the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown in said drawings, as they are capable of modification and variation within the scope of the invention as summarized in the claims following the description.

In said drawings-Figure 1 is a side view of the starter as applied to the shaft of an engine (not shown) showing the parts in position when the spring is fully wound and the starter is ready for operation in full lines; and indicating in dotted lines theposition of the parts when the starter is released to operate the engine. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22, Fig. 1.

1 designates a shaft which may be either the main engine shaft or a shaft driven from the main engine shaft, with which the starter is to be used. 011 this shaft 1 is re Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 29, rate.

Serial No. 778,342.

. tatably mounted a large gear wheel 2, beside which is a disk 1 fixed on the shaft. The gear 2 may be kept from longitudinal movement on the shaft between disk 1'" and a bearing 0 for the shaft 1, which bearing may be secured to the side of a casing C in which the operative parts of the starter are mounted and through which casing the shaft 1 extends, as shown. Beside this gear 2 is a stout coiled spring 3, one end of which is made fast to a pin 3 attached to the side of the gear 2 near the periphery thereof, while the inner end of the spring is fixed to a pin 3* attached to the casing C adjacent the hub of the gear 2, so that when the gear is turned in one direction the spring will be wound up and tensioned; and when released the spring will unwind and rotate the gear in the opposite direction.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 1 is a clutch sleeve 4, carrving a disk 4 and a sprocket wheel 4. The disk 4* is adjacent the hub 1 of the disk 1 and its face adjacent said disk is beveled on its outer edge. The sleeve 4 has in its end adjacent disk 1 notches 4P which are adapted to engage with clutch-opposed members or pins 1 on the shaft 1; and when said clutch members are engaged the sleeve is rotated with the shaft 1.

The gear 2 is loose on shaft 1, but may be rotated from the shaft 1 by means of a pinion 5 on a counter-shaft 5, supported in bearings c and 0 attached to the sides of the casing C; said shaft 5 lying parallel with shaft 1. On this shaft 5 is also secured a sprocket 5 which is driven from the s rocket 4 by means of a sprocket chain 4. To the shaft 5 is also attached a ratchet 6 which is engaged by a dog 6 pivoted at 6 on a bracket 6 attached to the adjacent side of the casing, this dog being normally held in engagement with the ratchet 6 by a spring 6 said dog is provided with depending lugs 6 at opposite sides of its tooth, which prevent lateral disengagement of such tooth with the ratchet.

The shaft 5 with the parts attached there to can be shifted longitudinally, so as to engage or disengage the pinion 5 from the gear 2 by any suitable means. I may shift shaft 5 by means of a rod 7 suitably mounted in the machine so that it can rotate with shaft 5, and which may extend forward to a point adjacent the drivers seat of an automobile where it may be provided with a crank or lever, not shown, by which the driver can operate the rod and shift the shaft 5 at will so as to engage or disengage the pinion 5 from the gear 2. When used on a motor boat this rod 7 may extend to a point adjacent the steering wheel, or engine control. The specific construction of devices for shifting the pinion 5?" is not an essential. feature of the present invention,

When the shaft 1 is being driven by the. motor, the sleeve 4 canbe clutched to, the shaft and pinion 5 engaged with gear 2; said gear will then be rotated in a direction contrary to the direction of the rotation of shaft l, and the spring 3 willbe wound up or tensioned,

In order to prevent undue winding of the spring and to automatically disengage the sleeve orclutch L from the pin or clutch member 1, I provide the following devices:

To the face of the gearQ adjacent disk 1 slidably attached abar 8 which may Se: cured to the gear and guided its longitudinal movement by means of. pins 2 engaging longitiildinal slots 8 in the bar. A Bar 8 is provided at its outer end withan aperture 8 which is engaged by a pin 3? attached to an outer convolution ofthe spring 3 so that when the spring iswound the bar is moved inwardly and when the spring un winds the bar is moved outwardly. To this bar'B. is attached abracket 8 iwhich projects inwardly towardthe shaft 1; and. to the inner end of this bracket 8} is attached a cam, orwedge piece 8, which is adapted to enter between the beveleddisk 4; and, the collar 1" and said wedge piece 8} enters between the, collar 1? and the flange]? as the spring is wound, and forces the sleeve outwardly until whenthe spring is fullywouhd the clutch notches are disengaged from the clutch studs and h ..Shaftl can rotate freely whilethe gear 2 is held locked bythe dogtj,

engaging the ratchet 6, theratc het holding 3 the gear 2 by reasonof its engagement with the intermediate pinion 5?, In this position of'the parts the engine can continue to re,- tate without affecting the gear 2 or the spring.

A rthe g ne a st vned and tie desired to again start same.;.the operatorrelleasesgear 2, (f, i. by shiftingthe shaft 5 longitudinally so as to disengage pinion 5e from, gear 2,)and thereupon the spring 3 rotates gear 2 in the reverse direction from that in which it was rotated while theispring was being wound, and in the sgnne direc tion in which the shaft L 1s intended to op; erate when driven by the, engineyand, the

shaft 1 being directly connected with the,

engine. operates the pistons thereof until, the

engine itself takes up, its work'andbegins,

to drive the shaft 1.

As thegear 2 is necessarily looseupon the shaft 1 means must be provided for locking the gear 2 to the shaft 1 when the gear is rotated by the spring; this may be accomplished in diiferent ways. An efficient means is shown in the drawings and comprises a cam plate9 secured to the face of the gear 2 adjacent the periphery of the disk 1; and between the disk and the inner face Of this cam 9 is a clutch roller 9 which may be mounted upon a pin 9 attached to a link 9 which is loosely pivoted at 9 to cam 9. The lever 9 is pressed inward so. asvto move the roller. 9} into engagement with the disk upon the, spring actuated movement of the gear 2 by means of a spring 9 The inner face of the cam 9 is so curved that roller 9* looks between the periphery of the disk 1 and the face of the cam and clutches the two together upon and during the spring actuated movement of the gear 2. Upon the reverse n oyement of the gear the roller slides back and readily disengages. It will be seen fron the foregoing that when the eng ne s operating anduie pinion 5 is in mesh with gear Zfand the clutch sleeve i is in engagement with cluteh studs 1 motion will be imparted to gear 2 in a direction contrary to the motion of the shaft 1 and the spring 3 will be wound up until in its contraction the slide 8 enters wedge 8 suf ficiently between the. collar 1.ancl disk 46 to disengagejthe clutch, thereupon the gear 2 ceases to rotate but is, held with thespri-ng under tension by the engagement of dog 6 with the ratchet 6. i i

Fig. l in the drawings shows the device wound up, and; the lai'gecog wheel and shaft standing idle, ready; for starting the engine which is doneby shifting shaft 5 which throws pinion 5Eout of gear, and allows the spring to nun down, the engine being started in when a dil ini n shifted a k in place naturally carries, sleeve 4- in position at 17 due to the stiffness the chain i which would throw the sleeve laterally on the shaft 1. After the engine stopped and the operator desiresto start it, all he has to do is to disengagepinion 5? from gear 2, or disengage. seme part intermediate the pinion 5 and he p n 3, so t a se 2 ma be uated; in reversedirection by the uncoiling of spring 3, whereupon the clutch 9 looks the wheel tofthefcollar 1; and it rotates shaft 1, starting the engine in motion and enabling it to: take up itswork andv begin to drivethe shaft-1 a i -Geai z willcome to rest as soon as the spring isvunwound; but the spring in unwinding retracts the: wedge 8P fromcollar l and disk. t thereby permitting the clutch sleeve. to en age the clutch studs, whereupon sleeve 4 will be, rotated with the. shaft 1;

and; when the pinion 5: is again engaged and the sleeve sufficiently to disengage the clutch members 4*, l; whereupon the gear 2 is locked with the spring under tension ready for action at the will of the operator; while the engine can continue to 0p erate without further effect upon the spring; until the latter has again been released to operate the gear and start the shaft 1 as above explained.

What I claim is: y

1. In a starter, the combination of a driven shaft, a gear loosely mounted thereon, a spring connected with said gear and adapted to be put under tension when the gear is driven in one direction and to drive the gear in the reverse direction when re leased, means for driving the said gear from said shaft to tension the spring, means movably mounted on said gear and controlled by said spring, adapted to automatically disengage said driving means when the spring is tensioned; means for holding the gear when the spring is under tension; means for releasing the said gear at the will of the operator; and means whereby the gear when released and driven by the spring actuates said driven shaft.

2. In a starting device, the combination of a shaft adapted to be driven, a member loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring con-' nected to said member and to a fixed point adjacent thereto, clutch controlled means for rotating the member from said shaft, means movably mounted on said member and controlled by the spring for disengaging said clutch controlled means when the spring is sufficiently tensioned, means for holding the member when the spring is tensioned, means for releasing said holding means, and devices for actuating the shaft from said mem ber when it is driven by the spring.

3. In a starter, the combination of a driven shaft, a member mounted thereon, a spring connected to said member and adapted when under tension to drive same, means for driving the said member from said shaft to tension the spring, means movably mounted on said member adapted to automatically disengage said driving means when said spring is tensioned; means for holding said member when the said driving means are disengaged; means for releasing the said member; and means whereby the member when released actuates said driven shaft.

4. In a starter, the combination of a driven shaft, a member loosely mounted thereon, a spring connected to said member and adapted to be put under tension, means for driving the said member from said shaft to tension the spring, a plate slidably mounted on said member and having an extension adapted to automatically disengage said driving means when the spring is tensioned; means for holding the member when the spring is under tension; means for releasing the said member; and means whereby the member when released actuates said driven shaft.

5. I11 a starter, the combination of a driven shaft, a gear loosely mounted thereon, a spring connected with said gear and adapted to be put under tension, clutch controlled means for driving the said gear from said shaft to tension the spring, means slidably mounted on said gear adapted to automatically disengage said clutch controlled means when the spring is tensioned; means for holding the gear when the spring is under tension and the clutch disengaged; means for releasing the said gear at the will of the operator; and means whereby the gear when released and driven by the spring actuates said motor driven shaft.

6. In a starter for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a driven shaft,

a member loosely mounted thereon, a spring connected with said member and adapted to be put under tension when the member is driven in one direction and to drive the member in the reverse direction when released; means for driving said gear from said shaft to tension the spring; means for locking the member to hold the spring under tension; and means whereby the member actuates the shaft when driven by the spring; with a slidable plate beside the spring and operatively connected therewith so as to be reciprocated thereby, and means on said plate for automatically disengaging said driving means when the spring is tensioned, substantially as described.

7. In a starter for explosive engines and the like, the combination of a driven shaft, a gear loosely mounted thereon, a coiled spring having one end connected to the gear and the other to a fixed point adjacent the gear; clutch controlled means for rotating the gear from said shaft in a direction opposite thereto to wind the spring; a slidable plate beside the spring and operativelyconnected therewith so as to be reciprocated thereby, and means on said plate for automatically disengaging said clutch means when the spring is sufiiciently tensioned; with means for locking the gear when the spring is tensioned; means for releasing the locking means, and means for actuating the shaft from said gear when it is driven by the spring.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

. WILLIAM H. KELLY.

Witnesses:

J. FRANK WILLSON, SAML. H. ARNALL.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. G. 

